Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-08-28

going of alsne for ramble among the
peaks lying south and east Of that wild
canyon.
IL was used to roughing 1t. and man.
aged to find asgood place to camp every
night, and scarcely day passed that ]
did not find some party, prospectors or
tourists, from whom could obtain such
additions to my stores as were most
needed.
"At last I struck into what seemed
disused trail leading south, and, follow
ing it, was rewarded by having such
views of mountain and valley scenery
given me as seldom fall to the lot of the
traveller. For q week ! lounged along
the crests OF the canyon, or by the side OF
the streams that threaded them, keeping
my mark on the trail by which ! was to
return.
II had been enjoying fine view from
q rounded peak, wh0n curious hollow
seated amid beetling crags attracted my
attention. determined at once to visit it.
Cautiously making my way down the
rough and almost precipitous path. !
came at last to the base of the cliff. This
cliff rose dark and gloomy above the
fresh green sward that covered the bot
tom land. A clear stream purled through
this, and one or two clumps of trees gave
q pleasant diversity to the scene.
II was walking toward one Of these
clumps when white object lying close
to the cliff, some little distance away, at
tracted my attention. The sunlight fell
ON it and made it gleam With a strange
radiance. Changing the direction of my
course, moved slowly toward the shin
ing object
II had become impressed with the
idea that the thing, whatever it might
prove to be, held a power that would in
fluence my future, and you can therefore
Judge of the sensation that thrilled me
when i found that it was skull, about
which clustered mass Of the most
brilliant golden hair that l had ever seen.
'The skeleton that was scattered about
1t was evidently that Of a small and deli
cate woman. The brilliancy Of the hair
and the perfection Of the teeth showed
that the bones were those of some young
woman who had probably met her fate
here. As stood gazing / felt the influ-
ence of some sweet and lovely presence.
! felt none of that horror which we
usually experience when brought face to
face with the ghastly evidences Of
death; in fact, it did not seem death that
was holding council with in this lonely
place, but life, impalpable, it is true, but
life that held strange sweet power in its
keeping.
''For little time ! stood looking at the
hair which clustered about the white
skull, and then stopped and carefully gath
cred every thread Of it that could find.
] made diligent search that none should
escape, though could give no reason for
this, save an absorbing desire to possess
every vestige Of this weirdly attractive
gold. Tenderly folding the tangles in
my handkerchief, searched around for
some implement wherewith to dig
grave; and having found a stick, with
this and my hands followed out mar
row trench in which laid the skeleton.
In my search for every part of this, dis
covered heavy, plain gold ring, and this
was aii the evidence ieit py wmcn icouiu
trace the unfortunate iady VINO had met
death here.
AFTER repeating such parts of the
burial service of the Episcopal church as
/ could remember, covered the white
bones with grass, and then filed the
trench with earth. marking the spot 30
that should know II IN case l wished TO
hnd II again. then began swift re-
turn, Tor a strange desire to be In some
large city had come 10 me and hurried
me along.
Merely stopping TO give orders con.
cerning my luggage at the hotel where !
had LETT II, ! seated myself In the east
bound express, which was Just on the
point OF leaving, and was soon speeding
away.
IN a week 1 was IN New YORK, and
having supplied myself with less con-
spicuous suit than had been wearing, l
went out and walked slowly down
broadway, gong south Oh Union square.
"ihe golden tresses that had found
among the lar western mountains were
IN uf pocket and a peculiar warmth
seemed TO emanate from them. Whether
TINS mnuenced my wanderings l cannot
say. out gave no heed TO my steps, and
al last turned INTO a street that ran east
ware ! soon came 70 piain 6rick
mouse Of three stories. ! cannot tell the
% naine Oh .he rs street; nor did LOOK at the
numper on .he ouilding' ! only saw the
Wcru C,aI'oyan. IN giit ietters on a
SQUARE s'gn oy tne aoor, ana without
showing why "en' up tie s'eps and
rang tne oeli, eli,,,,
- was aani,'ea oy nea,ly dressed
gni, anu % usne,ed nl.o Sinaii ana COM
iortaD,y iurnisneu Parror'